Lab_Rat

Thinking about it now, that would make alot of sense! Rat

Lab rat wont be down at the show this weekend as the handler I need to see for the Xolos will only be there next week 30th, so may see you then ? Sorry gor my weekends muddled up! Hemi wont be with me. He is staying home to be a pet dog... He is just gorgeous tho! Bugger! On both accounts!! Oh well, there will be more dog shows! RnH - are you handling lots of dogs Saturday?? And Sunday? Xolo - No I wont be up next weekend - back to work properly then! But I am going to try and head up for a few of the bigger shows if I can later on in the year. Maybe the winter fest... Rat

Hey Kahlua. I think generally females are lighter than males. You will also find their heads are a bit finer as well. They usually look a little more feminine! I think (and Im no expert ) that red is a more rusty red, while the chocolate is alot darker, browner almost. When it comes to dog sports BCs seem to dominate over Kelpies. Im not 100% sure why this is, perhaps the BCs are less likely to do their own thing! I now that can be true in sheep dog trialling . Of course there will be differing opinions between the owners of the two breeds!! A very healthy debate! Have you asked in the BC thread?? Rat

It can, if it is futher down the track, then it is likely to be not quite as severe as straight after the bite/treatment. Getting bitten by a snake puts a huge strain on all the bodies organs. The kidenys and Liver cop a fair hammering with drying to filter venom, drugs and the products that end up in the urine from the muscle breaking down. I haven't had a dog bitten as yet - have had a cat, but I think if a dog (or cat) has been bitten it is not a bad idea to periodically run a full general health profile to make sure that everything is as it should be. I have a cat that survived Av Gas poisoning - still don't know how! She was only 3 at the time and I always have it in the back of my mind that she may have kidney and liver issues - especially after reading up the problems that have shown up in humans. Granted that is normally after low level chronic exposure, but she was very sick, and a high dose, burnt off skin from her pads and took all but about 10 hairs off her tounge, never to grow back, so I figure it will catch up with her eventually. Oh she also lost her ability to smell. Basically if you are worried, get some blood drawn, run a full genral health profile if it shows up as all good, great, you then have a healthy baseline to compare too. Wow - whats in av gas??? Sounds pretty nasty! Our last cat was bitten by a snake when he was quite young. He lived to 16 I think. He ended up with kidney failure and I think dementia. Not sure though if this was an age thing, from the snake bite or extreme pining for his mate that died a year before. Ironically also by snake bite I think! I think I will get a full blood test done. The last one she had was well over two years ago when we were trying to determine what on earth was wrong with the poor girl! Youre right RnL, it would be good to have a baseline for any future ilness. It would be great if the poor animals could talk and tell us what exactly was paining them! Or what had hurt them. Ive lost 3 animals in the last 12 months that I would love to know exactly what was wrong with them before their deaths!! Rat

Same with Sasha, she doesn't vomit the grass either - it comes out the back end (sometimes with a little help from Mum when it can't come out properly ). Sasha was the same with chicken wings - would gobble them, then just wouldn't eat them anymore. I think, although she loves them, she maybe related to them making her sick. Like with us I suppose, if you have a bad experience with a particular food - you kind of get turned off it? I'm not sure, but I don't question it too much anymore. We just stick to what we know works best. For us, we just had to take Sasha off all raw food. It was the only way. She can handle cooked chicken/beef etc (although I've never given it to her in big quantities - but enough to have made her feel queasy if it was ever going to. She's like a reverse dog - has to do everything differently. Most dogs thrive on raw food - NOOOOOO - not my Sasha, she has to be different Even with fish, Sasha loves sardines. But if I give them to her everyday, she will refuse to eat them anymore. Twice a week is about all I can get away with. It's been an ongoing battle getting Sasha 'right' - and it costs an absolute fortune feeding her the diet she is now on... but it works, she has developed lovely muscle tone and filled out, is bright and healthy looking, and we no longer have the consistent sickly days (only the few and far between ones). I hope you find what will work for your girl soon to allow you to feel happy and less stressed - I know how frustrating it will be, so I can fully sympathise. I also worry about bloat (and everyone laughs at me and says I'm crazy)... but I'd rather be safe than the one time I"m not and be sorry. I ensure Sasha doesn't do much an hour before and after - and everyone knows those rules. I've not had experience with bloat, however I'm petrified of it - so if I did have such a bad experience I know I would be very worried about it all the time. But each dog is different. Dont you love having to extract grass :birthday: Im glad youve found a solution for Sasha. Im pretty strict with what Zola gets, and shes been fine up until this latest refusal to eat chicken wings. So I will just stick with what I know she'll eat I think and offer bones occasionally. Our two also get salmon a couple of times a week - Zola loves that! Rat

A bit OT, but when I was a kid of about 8 we had a nieghbour who was Polish. He had about 4 dogs and I was amazed that they understood Polish.... I know of someone whos ridgy understands English and Spanish. Im interested that there are a number of people who actually train using a language other than English! Ive never really considered it! Rat

Two more sleeps yet RS..............Im not bored, just excited, yes actually excited, to be heading to Perth for the weekend Did I read correctly - theres a Gundog show on Sunday??? Perhaps I could sneak to that one too and check out the GSP's . Rat

So ValleyCBR are you just showing on the saturday? I will have to come and have a look. Have you got a show suit yet? Hope its a nice colour A purple one would look nice with Lincoln i think Depends on what shade of purple I will be there on Saturday!!! VCBR - I will bring your book back too.... I feel so bad I havent given it back, but I havent really seen you! Ooh, can I have a Hemi cuddle??? Hows the little cutie going?? VCBR - I too hope it doesnt rain! Its yucky at K9 when its wet - usually windy as well, and under the dome it seems to be colder than it really is! Rat

My first obedience test - kindy class -with Wandy the kelpie was in the rain, with added wind!! She was a good girl considering, but refused to drop , cant say I blame her!! So yeh, I feel for yas, but Ill be inside watching the show dogs........... :birthday: I may wander down to have a look if its NOT raining! Rat

Yep, Saturday & Sunday wet and maybe thunder, Monday sunny then back to winter again for the rest of the week. It would be good if it would by pass Perth and head SOUTH. Im over looking at a manky yellowy brown paddock thats supposed to be green! I seriously hope there is NO thunder on Saturday. Must really shit the dogs off under the dome - its so echo-ee under there :D Rat

After my girls checkups lately Ive decided to continue with the Proheart jabs for our kelpie, but after discussions with our dear vet we decided that because of Zolas allergies it would be better for her NOT to hve the needle and go with the monthly chews instead. I think its a individual dog based decision, and our next dog will be fully checked out, and advice from the vet taken into consideration before we decide which, if any chemical they will be getting! Has anyone read anywhere the incidences of Heartworm Australia wide?? As in, where they are found, at what times of year, numbers of dogs infected etc.? Also - Im asssuming each treatment is a different chemical, injection and chewable and tablet?? Rat

Thanks for your replies - I know others go through stressful times with their hounds, I was feeling particularly sooky that day! My girl has picked up in the last few days, Ive been adding a probiotic/herbal supplement to her meals and it seems to be helping. Having a stressy human watching your every move probably doesnt help much either :D I stress - she stresses, so I stress more Think I need to start doing yoga and use rescue remedy!! KellyLousie - Zola does suffer from intolerances to most meats, lamb being the exception. She was eating chicken wings happily up until about a month ago. She only gets the odd one though as they make her itch. Turkey is pretty unavailable in my part of the world. Like your Sasha, Zola will be picky with food and rather eat a paddock of grass than normal dog food. Thing is she doesnt vomit - it generally comes out the other end Yummo! I certainly dont fuss about what she eats - if she does she does, if shes not interested it gets taken away. I wish I could figure out why she is not interested in bones??? ShowDog - I think you are so right about the stress/human thing!! See I dont worry a bit about our Kelpie. Even when she is crook I dont get quite as worked up over it compared to when the ridgy is sick. Like I mentioned above, I think I need the destressing :D I too do all the right things to supposedly prevent bloat, they are fed twice a day, Zola has a Gutsy-bowl, they are not exercised an hour before or after meals.......And I understand if its going to happen, it will. RnL - So sorry to read about your dear Dobes. I can understand why you cant have them - Im feeling a bit the same with the ridgies! I love the breed to death, but if I cant enjoy having them, why have them??? I still dont know if its just bloat Im worried about or Zola getting sick generally. She went through quite a long period of time being a sick dog and now everytime she shows a sign of being off colour, I panic. Not sure why as none of her sickness was life threatening - well apart from the snake bite!! Does snake venom cause long term organ problems at all does anyone know. I have tried googling it, but came up with nuthin'........ So thanks again guys, I think youve put it all in a bit more perspective for me - I just need to harden up and panic less so I can ENJOY my darling dog! Rat

:D Good God Ozjen I cant believe that would really happen!!!!! Was this in WA?? Surely they Pet Shop owner would know that this ISNT the done thing!? I think if I had seen that I wouldve been onto the "original" name on the limited papers to let them know , then wouldve let rip at the pet shop - seriously this sort of stuff really p!$$es me off! I think the biggest thing that puts me off getting into breeding is finding homes for the pups - it would be the single most difficult thing to get 100% right. The small number of idiots make it soooooo hard for those that seriously just want to do the right thing...Oh, and BTW - I am not having a go at you at all Ozjen, Im just infuriated that someone would actually do this without a second thought!!!!! Ok, vent over... Are you gonna be at the show on Sat VCBR, or some other event?? If so I will endeavour to hunt you down and introduce myself, very interested in having a quick squiz at your agility book - see if its what I need! I reckon they will be using the dome if its gonna be thundering and raining! Hope it makes it way around the grounds though! Geez, I cant believe just how excited I am about going to watch this show on Saturday!!! :D Rat

Thanks guys, always helps to have anothers input! I know that if its going to happen it will - hell, Miekahs bloat appeared out of nowhere - no running around, drinking huge amounts etc., etc. I will try and stop reading stuff into whats just not there, and yeah I guess Ill breathe now :D Thanks again for your kind words :D Rat

This may seem like a strange topic, but Im sure there are others out there who are going through the same sort of thing! I lost my first dear ridgy about 5 years ago to bloat, and it was quite stressful as I had no idea about bloat and felt very guilty for some time about her being so sick before she got to a vet My "problem" is the anxiety I feel about my current RR girl whenever she is a little off colour. She developed tummy problems when she was about 8 months old, vomiting, diarrhoea and food issues. After a myriad of tests and diet changes, her gut settled and shes been fairly good since then with only a few upsets. Her diet is lamb/mutton meat, veges and a lamb based kibble. I cant remember the last time she vomited or had diarrhoea, so all in all shes doing well. But................... Recently she has become quite fussy and will only eat minced meat - she will either take a piece of meat from me, and spit it on the floor or just wrinkle her nose at it and refuse it. She is the same with bones. She has refused chicken wings and lamb bones in the last week! If there are chicken wings or lumps of meat in her bowl she will eat around them or pick them out and drop them on the floor. The look on her face is something else, like what she has in her mouth is the most offensive thing shes ever put in there She has a more than healthy appetite for her normal diet so thankfully she hasnt lost any weight. On Friday night and last night she wanted desperately to go outside, where she ate huge amounts of grass almost frantically for a good 5 minutes! No throwing up just eating and then coming back inside! God I feel like Munchausen By Proxy Syndrome is creeping in, but I honestly dont know how to deal with how I feel when my girl isnt herself. And I know when shes not herself, coz shes such a bubbly active dog. I will be talking to my vet today- who is an angel, but just wondered if anyone else out in DOL land is going or has gone through the same sort of thing. Am I panicking about nothing? I know part of it is from what happened with our first girl. Should I just harden up :D ...Thankfully our Kelpie girl is close to perfect, I dont have any worries with her at all. Any thoughts?? Thanks guys Rat

Aaahhhh, was wondering about the time change! Works for me - now I dont have to get up at 5am to go to Perth!!! It will be a nice leisurly trip instead, in daylight! Gotta love that! I think Lure Coursing would go down a treat in WA, Im sure some of the ridgy owners used to do their own thing somewhere Rat

Well Im heading up to the Big Smoke on the Saturday, going to the All Breeds show (is that when you will be team penning??) on my way to big bothers place. Maybe late Monday arvo?? ...Not doing the Kelpie visit this time, dont want to get myself tooooo over excited So perhaps on my way back down to Perth after I tear myself away from the beautiful Llamas ;) Rat

That sounds like so much fun Mirawee! Our mare - who we lost recently - was a natural on cows, didnt know it though until my sister took her to a campdrafting weekend a few years ago We did use her on the farm, but in a yard of cattle she took on a completely different persona - like she was channelling some super cow-horse, it was beautiful to watch! I would love to get back into riding again, but wont be getting another horse - will have to make friends with someone who has a nice wide sensible beast ;) ... Well the 4 mm we had here seems to have soaked in quite well in the paddock, I dont believe it but it actually looks like the pasture has come back from the dead. Of course we need a hell of alot more so it doesnt die in the arse again The sky was looking quite dark and looming when I went out with the dogs to feed sheep before......C'mon rain, anyone know a rain dance?? Thankfully weve not had any thunder - scares the bejesus outa me , which then freaks out big-bad-tough-red-lion-dog Rat

So you havent had anything down there yet R'n'L? I hate watching the weather these days, they promise stuff that never seems to arrive! Im sick of looking out onto dead grass and clover that was doing so well! But I am glad I only have 3 sheep to sustain.....Must be super frustrating for all the 'real' farmers, I feel for them :rolleyes: Rat

You are coming next weekend aren't you? I will be chasing cows on Sat arvo (on my horse :D) Well assuming that we don't get so much rain that it is cancelled (cattle truck can't get in to the grounds if it is too wet). Although looking at the latest forecast not as much rain is expected in the next week as it was yesterday Ie not much rain now until Monday and even then not much I hate showing in the rain and have a big horse show this weekend and possibly another on Sunday so it just shows how desperate we are for rain that I am willing to show in the wet! Yeh not this weekend, but the following one 22/23 May! Have fun chasing cows on your horse - which horse?? The rain down here has been kinda disappointing, only that bit overnight, nothing so far today Rat

At least we finally have rain Although my guys actually aren't a big fan of going out in it... unless they can run outside and bark at thunder YAY RAIN!!!!!! How much have you had so far Mirawee??? Weve had only 4mm overnight, but its a start. Bloody well better keep raining over the next few days or Ill be sending a letter of complaint somewhere.................! Zola hates the rain of course. She will stand on the verandah and shake like shes wet - even though not a drop has fallen on her . She is soooo blonde! Wandy on the other hand doesnt really care, and like your mob she loves to bark at thunder! Not quite the thing youre after late at night when youre trying to sleep! So........... did you want me to send you that recipe Rat

Good to see that a serious sportster like Ptolomy gives her dogs absurd nicknames that make the judges wonder :D ;) ..........Makes me feel a little less funny about all my dogs nicknames! I read somewhere recently that you should give your pup ONE SHORT name and stick to it....Pfft, wheres the fun in that . My girls have at least five other names that I use regularly and they are always being morphed into some other stooopid name! And they dont seem to have any troubles knowing which name belongs to whom! VCBR, Muppet does suit Lincoln! Sheesh I could hardly tell him and Rowlf apart Rat

I will make a donation on Friday.....Wish I was closer to help out if needed Thinking of Jed and her animals. Rat

For Beans & Lincoln. Get better soon guys! Yes, please let it rain!!! I went for a walk through our paddock this morning - pretty much dead!! Ive been feeding the sheep wattle prunings but I think theyre getting slightly sick of them. Not doing the million paws walk this year. I have to go back to work on Sunday after 3 weeks holidays, not looking forward to it at all ;) ... Ive just returned from a big bush walk with the girls, my sister, mum and aunty. Was very nice! Zola even got to have a run without being on her usual 10m lead. Of course as soon as she got off she darted off after a smell of some kind , but spent the rest of the walk pretty much with me. I think shes learning!! Wandy on the other hand, little miss perfect, didnt wander far from mummy at all, as usual! This particular spot of bush was burned last spring and it was nice to see some greenery coming back through it. Banksias, Dryandras, lots of little shrubs, even a white tiny orchid type thing. Unfortunately there were lots of old and dead trees that burned through and fell down, but I guess they will now serve as habitat for all the critters that live out there. Rat

I so get that! Mine is the same. I think hes been to one show with me and that was before I was showing Zola! Rat